International award for University research

Research investigating the potential for Nintendo Wii-based technology to help people who are blind to navigate virtual environments – thereby enabling them to explore real spaces – has earned a top international award.

Research investigating the potential for Nintendo Wii-based technology to help people who are blind to navigate virtual environments – thereby enabling them to explore real spaces – has earned a top international award.

The Nottingham Trent University research has been named as the Journal of Assistive Technologies' most outstanding paper in the 2015 Emerald Literati Network Awards for excellence.

The study involved people who are blind using the Nintendo Wii remote control to simulate walking and scanning a virtual environment, which mimicked real spaces. Through touch and sound feedback, participants were able to navigate and explore complex spaces and to construct a 'cognitive map', which then enabled them to perform orientation tasks in the real space. The research also involved Tel Aviv University.

David Brown, Professor of Interactive Systems for Social Inclusion at Nottingham Trent University, said: "The award is an excellent boost for our team, and provides encouragement for our ongoing efforts to improve accessibility and quality of life for people with disabilities."

Emerald Group Publishing, a global publisher linking research and practice, publishes the journal and organises the awards.

A panel of editorial experts select papers for awards based on their novelty, inter-disciplinary interest and relevancy in today's world.

Nottingham scientists and clinicians are involved in a new clinical trial which aims to use stem cell transplants to grow a new immune system for people with untreatable Crohn’s disease – a painful and chronic intestinal disease which affects at least 115,000 people in the UK.